Latest News & Updates From The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management – Review of applications for license preapproval continues – OCM continues work to curb illegal sales of raw cannabis flower
News & Updates
Review of applications for license preapproval continues
OCM staff continue to review the more than 1,800 applications for license preapproval submitted by verified social equity applicants. The license types that received the most applications were for microbusinesses (586 applications), retailers (578 applications), and mezzobusinesses (372 applications). A chart and table below show the numbers of applications for all license types.
Applicants who meet all requirements of the review and vetting process will advance to a lottery. OCM will schedule the lottery once applications have been reviewed. Applicants selected through the lottery and who complete final required steps will be awarded license preapproval and be able to finalize business operations in anticipation of market launch after the adoption of rules in early 2025.
Chart showing the numbers of applications for nine license types. The following table includes all data represented in this chart.
License Type
Applications
%
Cannabis Microbusiness
586
32.3%
Cannabis Mezzobusiness
372
20.5%
Cannabis Cultivator
57
3.1%
Cannabis Manufacturer
45
2.5%
Cannabis Retailer
578
3.18%
Cannabis Wholesaler
9
0.5%
Cannabis Transporter
11
0.6%
Cannabis Testing Facility
5
0.3%
Cannabis Delivery Service
154
8.5%
Total License Preapplications
1817
100.00%
OCM continues work to curb illegal sales of raw cannabis flower
In March, OCM began enforcement actions to combat illegal sales of raw cannabis flower across the state. While Minnesota has legalized the sale of hemp-derived cannabinoid consumer products, selling raw cannabis flower is illegal, outside of dispensaries operated by one of Minnesota’s 11 tribal nations, because OCM has not issued any cannabis business licenses.
Enforcement actions have focused on voluntary compliance and education. In many cases retailers are permitted to voluntarily destroy flower they offer for sale during the first inspection. In subsequent inspections, product will be destroyed or embargoed and the business may be fined and cited for violations of Chapter 342.
Through Sept. 6, inspectors have destroyed 34,056 retail units of noncompliant hemp-derived cannabinoid products, representing an estimated retail value of $878,490. Through the same time period, OCM has destroyed nearly 190 pounds of cannabis flower offered for sale without a license, representing an estimated retail value of $564,900.
Businesses are reminded that Minnesota law requires that OCM deny an application for a cannabis business license by anyone issued a penalty under Chapter 342.
Resources & Reminders
Engage with us!
OCM enjoys going out in the community and participating in forums, meetings, and other opportunities that keep us engaged with our external partners. Our community engagement ranges from general overviews about OCM to subject-specific discussions. In addition, we meet with partners and advocates in the business community.
John Bosiger, Metrc and regulatory data supervisor
John was recently promoted to the Metrc and regulatory data supervisor position. Metrc (Marijuana Enforcement Tracking Reporting Compliance) is a database OCM will use to track cannabis as it moves through the industry from seed to sale of finished product.
